Samsung disables Galaxy phone feature

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RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., July 26 (UPI) -- An update to Samsung smartphones that removes search functionality in the built-in Google Search app is a result of U.S. legal action by Apple, analysts say.

In the United States, Samsung pre-emptively disabled the ability to search within on-device data like contacts and applications on Galaxy S3 phones during a patent dispute with Apple, AndroidCentral reported Wednesday.

Now an over-the-air update for all Samsung Galaxy S3 phones internationally is disabling the same function, it reported.

The decision to kill local search on the unlocked international model, not available in the United States, is puzzling, analysts say, because Apple has yet to challenge Samsung over local search in the European Union or in Britain where the international model is sold.

Users aren't being informed the latest update disables functionality that was included with the phone when they purchased it, AndroidCentral reported.

The update was released July 20.